Challenges in providing services in methadone maintenance therapy clinics in China: Service providers’ perceptions
Received 20 July 2009; received in revised form 23 August 2009; accepted 9 September 2009. published online 09 October 2009. Corrected Proof
Abstract
Background
The Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) program has been initiated in China since 2004. As of the end of November, 2008, 558 MMT clinics had been established countrywide. The objective of this study was to elucidate the difficulties and challenges as perceived by service providers working in MMT clinics.
Methods
One service provider from each of the 28 MMT study clinics in Zhejiang and Jiangxi Provinces of China participated in a face-to-face in-depth interview for about 1–2h to describe their perceptions of working in MMT clinics. Qualitative data were analysed using ATLAS.ti. The grounded theory was used to guide the data analysis.
Results
Participants identified major problems in providing services in MMT clinics including lack of resources, professional training, and institutional support. Difficulties in pursuit of career, concern for personal safety, low income, heavy working load, and poor opinion of MMT by Chinese society often contributed to greater stress and burnout among the service providers.
Conclusion
The MMT programs in China desperately need additional resource allocation and institutional support for the current and perhaps future expansion of the programs. The service providers are in urgent need of professional training to improve the quality of care they can offer MMT clients.
aSchool of Public Health, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
bNational Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
cDepartments of Family Medicine and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
Corresponding author at: Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health, 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. Tel.: +1 310 910 9707; fax: +1 310 794 2495.
ABSTRACT
h to describe their perceptions of working in MMT clinics. Qualitative data were analysed using ATLAS.ti. The grounded theory was used to guide the data analysis.